Method and arrangement for variably generating cryptographic securities in a host device

ABSTRACT

In a method and arrangement for variable generation of cryptographic securities of communications in a host device, for cryptographic security of a communication for a first purpose a first signature is used and for cryptographic security of a communication for a second purpose a second signature is used, the signatures being differentiated from each other by the type of their generation. A cryptologic module has a number of logic circuits and a changeover switch and is arranged externally of the postal security device and is connected at its output with an information input of the postal security device that has a logic circuit that applies a digital signal algorithm to the output signal supplied by the output in order to generate a signature.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a divisional application of Ser. No. 10/690,012, filed Oct. 21, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,610,247.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a method and an arrangement for variable generation of cryptographic securities, such as for protecting communications, in a host device, of a type suitable for mail processing and having a security module such as franking machines, addressing machines, and similar devices.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A franking imprint contains an indicia representing previously entered and stored postal information, including the mailing fee data to deliver the letter. Modern franking machines enable printing of a special marking in addition to the aforementioned notice. For example, a Communication Authentication Code is generated from the aforementioned indicia and then forms a barcode as a marking. When a security imprint is printed with such a marking, it enables a verification of the validity of the security of the security imprint, for example in the post office (U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,426).

The franking machine JetMail® manufactured by Francotyp-Postalia AG & Co. KG, is equipped with a base and with a detachable meter. The latter contains a security module that, for example, generates a digital signature for a security printing by the franking machine (U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,704).

Furthermore, it is known to cryptographically secure the data exchange between a franking machine and a remote data central when a credit value is downloaded. A security module for this purpose can include a hardware accounting unit and a unit to secure the printing of the postal fee data (European Application 789 333). The hardware accounting unit is realized with an ASIC, and the other unit is realized with an OTP (One Time Programmable processor). The accounting event thus cannot be manipulated by means of a program attenuation, and moreover an arbitrary cryptographic algorithm can be stored in the read-only memory for the OTP processor such that it can be called. An internal OTP storage (memory) stores readable but protected data (among other things, cryptographic keys) that, for example, are necessary to download a credit or to generate a cryptographic security of a communication of the franking machine. A known encoding algorithm, for example Data Encryption Standard (DES), thus can be used for the formation of MAC's for communications of different types, whereby for each type a predetermined cryptographic key is agreed on (stipulated). A security housing of the security module provides external protection against disclosure of the cryptographic keys. (German Utility Model 201 12 350). Franking machines are developed for the most part only for a single purpose, namely to print postal indicia. Expensive encryption technology is thereby used. If further application possibilities for such devices were able to be developed wherein the accepted signal algorithms could be used without a danger of confusion with the postal indicia, this would expand the functionality of the device.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,384 generating a signature for a refund indicium, wherein an invalid ZIP code is used, for example 00000-0000. This should prevent a tamperer from fraudulently using the signature as an ordinary printed postmark to send mail.

Alternatives to assemble data for processing with the cryptographic algorithms in a specific manner dependent on the communication type, or in which the communication format is selected differently for a download indicia than for the communication format of an ordinary indicia, for example completely without ZIP, etc., are not always implementable due to the very different regulations of the national postal authorities or private postal carriers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and an arrangement for variable generation of cryptographic securities for communications in a host device, wherein the varying generation is controlled dependent on the communication type that has been set.

The object is achieved in accordance with the invention in a method and arrangement wherein different signatures are used for cryptographically securing a communications that are used for different purposes. The different cryptographic algorithms to generate signatures differing in type can be implemented separately or together in a logic module by hardware or by a program in the read-only memory of a postal security device (PSD).

Based on the recognition that the storage of different programs in the aforementioned read-only memory (each program serving to implement a specific cryptographic algorithm) enables an arbitrary combination of signing algorithms and hash algorithms for a communication type, a logic module is additionally connected to a postal security device. The logic module, alone or in conjunction with programs in the read-only memory of the postal security device and, if necessary, additionally with programs in the read-only memory of the host device, implements at least one specific algorithm from the multiple cryptographic algorithms, the implementation being controlled dependent on the communication type that has been set. The cryptologic module has at least one output that is directly or indirectly circuited to the input of a second logic circuit inside the postal security device. The cryptoalgorithms can be implemented outside of the PSD in the cryptologic module and/or inside the PSD. By switching over, the inputs or outputs of logic circuits or parameters of hash functions can be switched by a logic circuit, the logic circuits using identical and differently assembled cryptoalgorithms. A changeover switch can be implemented in the PSD and/or outside of the PSD, and thereby be triggered by the PSD or host. The generation of a signature should be determined less by the host application and more the PSD application. Even more suitable are variants in which the changeover switch is realized in the PSD. Should the host application be determinative, variants are preferable in which the changeover switch is realized outside of the PSD. A number of variants of the structure implemented inside the cryptologic module and inside the PSD, and the interconnection of both under normal operating conditions are available, such that signatures can be generated that are invalid for the franking of mail but are suitable or valid for other purposes. Further application possibilities in the field of mail processing are special indicia such as, for example, postage correction indicia or military or embassy mail. Moreover, there are non-postal applications in the field of ticketing and monetary documents for which accepted signing algorithms now can be used in accordance with the invention, without a danger of confusion with postal indicia. This permits further application possibilities to be developed, which expands the functionality of franking machines.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is simplified depiction of the generation of a signature by means of a known postal security device (prior art).

FIG. 2 shows a host-controlled switch for the cryptoalgorithms for generation of a signature by means of the postal security device, according to a first version of the invention.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate of the structures of cryptoalgorithms suitable for use in the inventive method and arrangement.

FIG. 5 a shows a second version of a host-controlled switch for the cryptoalgorithms for generation of a signature by a postal security device in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 5 b shows a first version of a PSD-controlled switch for the cryptoalgorithms for generation of a signature by a postal security device in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 6 shows a second version of a PSD-controlled switch for the cryptoalgorithms for a generation of a signal by a postal security device in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 7 shows a third version of a PSD-controlled switch for the cryptoalgorithms for generation of a signature by a postal security device in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 8 shows a third version of a host-controlled switch for the cryptoalgorithms for generation of a signature by a postal security device in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 9 shows a fourth version of a host-controlled switch for the cryptoalgorithms for a generation of a signature by a postal security device in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 10 shows a host and PSD-controlled switch for the cryptoalgorithms for a generation of a signature by a postal security device in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a host device in accordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a simplified depiction of the generation of a signature by means of a known postal security device (PSD). Via an input e of the PSD 10, a communication m is applied to a first logic circuit 11 that applies a first cryptoalgorithm to the communication m. The output a of the first logic circuit 11 is connected to the input of a second logic circuit 12 that applies a digital signal algorithm (DSA) to the output signal in order to generate data for a signature. The logic circuits can be a software or hardware module that implements the corresponding algorithm according to software or hardware. For example, the digital signal algorithm (DSA) known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,668, or a comparable standard algorithm, is implemented according to software by the second logic circuit. A corresponding program that can be processed by a microprocessor (not shown) is implemented in the read-only memory (not shown) of the second logic circuit of the security module. In contrast to such known techniques, the first cryptoalgorithm is inventively implemented according to hardware and externally of the PSD 10 by means of the first logic circuit. In a first version, the first logic circuit is realized such that it can be connected to the PSD. In order to generate signatures for different purposes, an arrangement is achieved that uses two different permissible hash functions in the same signing algorithms.

FIG. 2 shows a host-controlled switch of the cryptoalgorithms for generation of a signature by a postal security device. In this first version, the logic circuit 21 for the cryptoalgorithm 1 and the logic circuit 22 for the cryptoalgorithm 2 are connected at their inputs and respectively lead at their outputs to contacts I and II of a changeover switch 24. The switch 24 is connected at its output to the input of the second logic circuit 12 that applies the DSA to the output signal in order to generate data for a signature. Both logic circuits 21 and 22 and the changeover switch 24 form a host-controlled cryptologic module 20 which has a control data input c and is connected at its output d with the information output i of the PSD 10.

The usable algorithms specified in the IBI program of the American postal authority USPS are RSA (Rivest, Shamir, Adleman), DSA (Digital Signal Algorithm), and ECDSA (Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm), which are respectively limited with the SHA-1 (Secure Hash Algorithm).

If a signing key sk of a postal security device (PSD) is applied to a communication m for a first purpose, for example to account for an ordinary indicium (49 bytes), the calculation of the signature sig for the communication m ensues as follows: sig=DSAsign(sk, SHA-1(m))  (1)

For a second purpose, the second communication M is specified. In contrast to the equation (1) used for the first purpose, the signature SIG for a second purpose, for example for a refund indicium, is calculated as follows: SIG=DSAsign(sk, SHA-1(SHA-1(M))),  (2)

By the double application of SHA-1 instead of a single application of SHA-1, it can be prevented that a signature calculated for the second purpose is output for the first purpose. A security examination shows that in this manner, a tamperer achieves as a by-product of an ordinary signature m′=SHA-1(M),  (3) which is not helpful for reuse, because the data set of this communication has a length of 160 bits=20 bytes, and to “reuse” a signature, a communication would have to have a data set with a length of 49 bytes. In practice, the knowledge of any 49-byte long data set is not sufficient for a fraudulent manipulation. For deception to work, the deceiver for the most part would have to already be able to select the data set.

FIG. 3 shows a combination of identical cryptoalgorithms 221 and 222 within the logic circuit 22. The logic circuit 22 is differentiated from the logic circuit 21 by the application of another cryptoalgorithm or via the doubled application of the same cryptoalgorithm.

There are a number of other possible combinations to form a cryptoalgorithm. FIG. 3 shows simple structures of such cryptoalgorithms, wherein the logic circuit 22 is differentiated from the logic circuit 21 by the additional application of a further cryptoalgorithm. It is known to form an HMAC that is based on a known hash function SHA-1. In addition to the communication m, an H-MAC requires a key k as an input. The logic circuit 22 is differentiated from the logic circuit 21 by the additional application of another cryptoalgorithm or by the application of different keys in an identical cryptoalgorithm. Two publicly known parameters can be agreed upon as keys, for example 1010 for ordinary indicia and 0101 for refund indicia. The parameters must be publicly known because the latter is likewise required by the receiver of the indicia for verification. In this variant, the problem does not ensue that was illustrated for refund indicia in the above-identified case of operation in the above security examination, because a refund indicium is formed with the same signing key, but with a different combination of signing and hash algorithms, as an ordinary indicium. Moreover, a refund can be effected directly with the producer infrastructure via an online transaction, in a manner analogous to credit downloading. To authenticate the corresponding communication of the PSD, a different signing key is used than for ordinary indicia. In this manner, the existing signatures never can be misused for indicia purposes

A second version of a host-controlled switch for the cryptoalgorithms for a generation of a signature by a postal security device is shown in FIG. 5 a. An ordinary postal security device PSD 10 is thereby connected with a cryptologic module 20, and thus its functionality is expanded such that signatures can be formed that are appropriate for three different purposes. The ordinary PSD 10 again has two logic circuits 11 and 12, which can be a software or a hardware module. The cryptologic module 20 provides a host-controlled input-side changeover switch 24 for the communication m. The contacts I, II and III of the changeover switch 24 respectively connect to the inputs e1, e2, e3 of the logic circuits 11, 22, 23. The logic circuits 22 and 23 are arranged in the cryptologic module 20. The cryptologic module 20 has on the output side a connection to the outputs a2, a3 of the logic circuits 22 and 23 and a connection of the output d of the information input i of the PSD 10. The output a1 of the logic circuit 11 is likewise connected with the information input i of the PSD 10. The information input i of the PSD 10 is connected on the input side with the second logic circuit 12, which applies a further algorithm, for example a DSA, to the output signal in order to generate data for a signature.

FIG. 5 b shows a PSD-controlled switch for the cryptoalgorithms for generation of a signature by a postal security device according in a first version. The PSD has an internal logic circuit 11 for a first cryptoalgorithm and a second logic circuit 12 in order to generate data for a signature. The cryptologic module 20 includes logic circuits for a second cryptoalgorithm 22 and a third cryptoalgorithm 23, and requires no input-side changeover switch. Therefore, a PSD-controlled input-side changeover switch 14 is provided in the PSD 10 for the communication m. The contacts I, II and III of the changeover switch 14 and respectively connected to the inputs e1, e2, e3 of the logic circuits 11, 22, 23. The logic circuits 22 and 23 are arranged in the cryptologic module 20 and respective inputs e2 and e3 are provided. The cryptologic module 20 has on the output side a connection d to the outputs a2, a3 of the logic circuits 22 and 23 with the information input i of the PSD 10.

FIG. 6 shows a second variation of a PSD-controlled switch of the cryptoalgorithms for a generation of a signature by a postal security device. No input-side changeover switch is provided for the communication m, but rather the latter connects to the input e₁ of a first logic circuit 21 for a first cryptoalgorithm. Its output a₁ is connected to the first contact I of a changeover switch 14 within the PSD 10. The output a₁ is connected to the input e₂ of a first logic circuit 11 inside the PSD 10. Its output a₂ is connected to the second contact II of the changeover switch 14 within the PSD 10. Each of the first logic circuits 21 and 11 can employ the same cryptoalgorithm and are successively traversed by the communication when the contact II of the changeover switch 14 is selected by the PSD 10 via a control data input c. The output a₁ of the first logic circuit 21 is connected to the input e₃ of a third logic circuit 23 of the cryptologic module 20, which is external of the PSD 20. Its output a₃ is connected to the third contact III of the changeover switch 14 within the PSD 10. In this second version of a PSD-controlled switch, the switching between the first logic circuit 21 and the third logic circuit 23, that are both arranged externally of the PSD 10, ensues directly before the traversal of the second logic circuit 12, which is internally arranged in the PSD 10.

FIG. 7 shows a PSD-controlled switch for the cryptoalgorithms for generation of a signature by a postal security device according to third version. A first logic circuit 21 for a first cryptoalgorithm has an input e₁ for a communication m and an output a₁ that is connected with an input e₂ of a second logic circuit 23 for a second cryptoalgorithm. The output a₂ of the second logic circuit 23 is connected with an input e₃ of a third logic circuit 23 for a third cryptoalgorithm, the output of which a₃ connects to the information input of the postal security device 10. The cryptologic module 20 is connected on the output side with the postal security device 10, and the output a₁ of the first logic circuit 21 is connected to a first contact I. The output a₂ of the second logic circuit 22 is connected to a second contact II, and the output a₃ of the further logic circuit 23 is connected to a third contact III of a PSD-controlled changeover switch 14 inside the postal security device 10. The changeover switch 14 is coupled on the output side to a second logic circuit 12 within the postal security device 10 that generates the signature.

FIG. 8 shows a third version of a host-controlled switch of the cryptoalgorithms for generation of a signature by a postal security device. A cryptologic module 20 arranged externally of the postal security device 10 is connected with at least with its output d with an information input i of the postal security device 10. The postal security device 10 internally contains a logic circuit 12 that applies a digital signal algorithm to the output signal supplied by output d, in order to generate data for a signature. The cryptologic module 20 includes a number of logic circuits 21, 23 and a changeover switch 26 that has a control data input c₂ for control via a host (not shown). The changeover switch 26 is connected with the further logic circuit 23 and switches a key k1, k2 for the further cryptoalgorithm. A first logic circuit 21 for a first cryptoalgorithm has an input e₁ for a communication m and an output a₁ that is connected with an input e₃ for a further logic circuit 23 for a further cryptoalgorithm, the output a₃ of which is connected to the information input i of the second logic circuit 12 that generates the signature.

FIG. 9 shows a fourth version of a host-controlled switch for the cryptoalgorithms for generation of a signature by a postal security device. In addition to the switching of the third version, that has a first changeover switch 26 that switches a key k1, k2 for the further cryptoalgorithm of the further logic circuit 23, a second changeover switch 24 is provided in the host-controlled cryptologic module 20. Contacts I and II of the changeover switch 24 are connected with the outputs a₁ and a₃ of the first and third logic circuits 21 and 23. The changeover switch 24 forms on the output side the output d that is connected with the information input i of the postal security device 10. The changeover switches 24 and 26 are controlled by a host (not shown) via a control data input c₁, c₂.

FIG. 10 shows a host- and PSD-controlled switching for the cryptoalgorithms for generation of a signature by a postal security device. The postal security device 10 comprises at least one logic circuit 11, and the cryptologic module 20 has at least one logic circuit 23. The cryptologic module 20 has a first host-controlled changeover switch 26 that switches a key k1, k2 for the further cryptoalgorithm of the further logic circuit 23. To switch between the outputs a₁ and a₃ of the first and third logic circuits 11 and 23, a second PSD-controlled changeover switch 14 is provided in the postal security device 10. Contacts I and II of the changeover switch 14 are connected with the outputs a₁ and a₃ of the first or, respectively, third logic circuits 11 and 23, respectively.

FIG. 11 shows a block diagram of a host device. The postal security device 10 and the cryptologic module 20 are connected under normal operating conditions by means of interfaces i, d via a host-internal BUS 37. A hardware and interface switch 13 of the postal security device 10 for the interface i can be realized, for example, with an application-specific switch (ASIC). The latter is connected with a data processing unit 16 for implementation of the aforementioned cryptographic functions and with non-volatile storage 15 for implementation of further functions. The data processing unit 16 has a microprocessor (μP) with real-time clock (RTC), FLASH storage, and main memory (SRAM). The security device 10 has internal monitoring units 17 and 19 and an internal bus 19. The host device 1 likewise has a non-volatile storage 35, microprocessor 36, read-only memory 33, main memory 34, as well as a modem 32, keyboard 39, and display controller 38 with display unit (not shown). The host device 1 can be connected via a communication connection 2 with a remote data central 5. The data central 5 has, for example, a modem 52, a server 53, and a databank 54. The host device 1 can—in a manner not shown—be connected via a communication connection or interface with a further device, for example a print device.

The invention of not limited to the described embodiments, in which at least two different hash functions permitted by an authority are used in the same signing algorithm. Alternatively, the same hash function can be used in two different permitted signing algorithms. The cryptologic module 20 is then likewise connected with the PSD 10. The various permitted signing algorithms and their switching are undertaken according to software. The cryptologic module 20 comprises only a logic circuit 21 for a cryptoalgorithm, for example a known hash function.

Although modifications and changes may be suggested by those skilled in the art, it is the intention of the inventor to embody within the patent warranted hereon all changes and modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of his contribution to the art. 

1. A system for variably generating cryptographic securities, for communications, comprising: a host computer configured to generate an unencrypted communication; a postal security device in communication with said host computer, said postal security device having an information input; a cryptologic module in said host computer external to said postal security device, having a module output connected to said information input of said postal security device, said cryptologic module being configured to apply a cryptoalgorithm stored in said cryptologic module to said communication to generate a cryptoalgorithm output and to emit the generated cryptoalgorithm output at said module output; a logic circuit in said postal security device, connected to said information input and being configured to apply a digital signature algorithm to said cryptoalgorithm output emitted from said cryptologic module, to generate data for a cryptographic signature and to emit said data for cryptographic signature at an output of said logic circuit; and said cryptologic module comprising a control data input that receives control data generated by said host computer and being configured to modify said cryptoalgorithm output using said control data, a plurality of logic circuits that affect said cryptoalgorithm output, a switch connected between each of said logic circuits and said cryptoalgorithm output, and connected to said control data input for connecting one of said logic circuits to said cryptoalgorithm output dependent on said control data, and a first of said logic circuits containing a first cryptoalgorithm and a second of said logic circuits containing a second cryptoalgorithm, and said switch connecting one of said first cryptoalgorithm and said second cryptoalgorithm to said cryptoalgorithm output dependent on said control data. 